Satisfying and highly adaptable, *pasta e fagioli* is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. The hearty Italian soup with a name that translates to “pasta and beans” is big on flavor and simple to cook.


How to Make Pasta e Fagioli: Classic Pasta e Fagioli Recipe

*Pasta e fagioli*, is an Italian bean soup that was traditionally considered a peasant dish due to its humble list of ingredients—cannelloni beans, Italian *soffritto*, stewed tomatoes, short pasta, olive oil, and garlic. While minestrone, another hearty soup with Italian roots, is typically packed with additional ingredients like Italian sausage, or veggies like zucchini, *pasta e fagioli* is a little more minimalist.

Recipes for the Italian bean soup vary around the world, but *pasta e fagioli* generally begins with an Italian *soffritto*: an aromatic flavor base [similar to French mirepoix](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-guide-to-mirepoix-the-aromatic-vegetable-base) that features minced celery, carrots, and onions cooked in olive oil until they are deeply soft and brown. 

Next, a mixture of meat or vegetable broth, tomato sauce, and a few choice herbs is added to the *soffritto* to build on its flavors. White beans and a dark leafy green like kale are added to the mix, simmering until deeply tender and flavorful. Finally, ditalini, a small pasta that looks a bit like a short, tiny section of elbow macaroni, is added into the hearty soup. Prior to serving, the *pasta e fagioli* gets a finishing touch of grated Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.  

Satisfying and highly adaptable, *pasta e fagioli* is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. The hearty Italian soup with a name that translates to “pasta and beans” is big on flavor and simple to cook.


Pasta e fagioli, is an Italian bean soup that was traditionally considered a peasant dish due to its humble list of ingredients—cannelloni beans, Italian soffritto, stewed tomatoes, short pasta, olive oil, and garlic. While minestrone, another hearty soup with Italian roots, is typically packed with additional ingredients like Italian sausage, or veggies like zucchini, pasta e fagioli is a little more minimalist.

What Is Pasta e Fagioli?

Recipes for the Italian bean soup vary around the world, but pasta e fagioli generally begins with an Italian soffritto: an aromatic flavor base <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-guide-to-mirepoix-the-aromatic-vegetable-base' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-guide-to-mirepoix-the-aromatic-vegetable-base","linkCopy":"similar to French mirepoix","category":null}'>similar to French mirepoix</a> that features minced celery, carrots, and onions cooked in olive oil until they are deeply soft and brown. Next, a mixture of meat or vegetable broth, tomato sauce, and a few choice herbs is added to the soffritto to build on its flavors. White beans and a dark leafy green like kale are added to the mix, simmering until deeply tender and flavorful. Finally, ditalini, a small pasta that looks a bit like a short, tiny section of elbow macaroni, is added into the hearty soup. Prior to serving, the pasta e fagioli gets a finishing touch of grated Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

What Are the Ingredients for Pasta e Fagioli?

Classic Pasta e Fagioli Recipe

Satisfying and highly adaptable, pasta e fagioli is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. The hearty Italian soup with a name that translates to “pasta and beans” is big on flavor and simple to cook.

Satisfying and highly adaptable, pasta e fagioli is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. The hearty Italian soup with a name that translates to “pasta and beans” is big on flavor and simple to cook.
